LAST night Aston Villa insulted fans who have paid thousands of pounds in recent years to watch them struggle.

LAST night Aston Villa insulted fans who have paid thousands of pounds in recent years to watch them struggle.

"We can't be bothered,undefined was the body language of the whole team as they lay down and allowed Doncaster to walk over them.

That's Doncaster Rovers of the old THIRD Division, by the way, position ninth in what is now League One. And they trounced the once mighty Villa, of the PREMIERSHIP, 3-0.

Manager David O'Leary apparently called players together after the match to tell them how he felt "sick and gutted". Join the club, David...

But if you were so angry, why sit slumped in the dug-out for most the match, betraying little emotion other than dejection? What a shocking way to lead your team. You should have been leaping up and down, shouting on the touchline, shaking enthusiasm into your bedraggled team.

Yet there's a stronger message that this historic failure spells out, and today we send that directly to Chairman Doug Ellis' desk.

We may lash out at the manager and players, Doug, but surely it's now time for you to take stock of your part in Villa's atrocious season.

The chips are down, and all we hear from the boardroom is how you are considering selling the club. Either that or we have to read your latest book recalling how you've nearly sold up three times before. What sort of direction is that?

You've led Villa for decades, Doug, and in that time you've put loads of effort and passion into building the club's fabric and structure. We sincerely thank you for that.

But, in truth, you should have stepped down a few years ago, and last night's cock-up has reminded us all that you really shouldn't hang around any longer.